When the Mobile Suit Gundam was first introduced, it was an alternative to the Super Robot series of anime. In sharp contrast to plots where the threat was either aliens or secret organizations, Gundam offered storylines where characters dealt with the horrors of war. In turn, those realistic problems came with realistic giant robots.

Eventually, a more powerful Gundam began to creep into its universe. For decades, mechas have gained additional absurd abilities. Many of these monstrous suits seem like they exist solely to top the last powerful mobile suit. For this list, we look at the most powerful of those mobile suits and rank them according to their abilities.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on February 1, 2024: The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise may mostly be a series of Real Robot anime, but this hasn't stopped fans from comparing the mobile suits as if they're robots from a Super Robot franchise. Each series has a standout mobile suit that's the strongest Gundam in that anime. This is especially the case for more experimental shows such as the goofy G Gundam or the unique Turn A Gundam. Thus, deciding the most powerful Gundam can be difficult due to how many there are to choose from.

25 F-91 Gundam

F91 Gundam

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam F91

Seabook Arno

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Several decades from the Char's Counterattack era in the Universal Century timeline, the F91 Gundam was designed to be the next step in Gundam's evolution. Development company SNRI wanted to find a way to keep the same amount of power in a Gundam while also shrinking the tech considerably. The result is the F91, a powerful suit piloted by Seabook Arno against the Crossbone Vanguard.

The F91's key weapons are its twin variable speed beam rifles, which run off energy from the suit's own reactor. These rifles are capable of firing destructive beams, capable of piercing two mobile suits with a single shot. With the cockpit having a Psycho-Frame and a Bio-Sensor, the F91 allows the pilot to respond to combat situations quicker than most other suits. The last key feature was the suit's multi-layer armor, which could be shed in case of overheating. This feature results in strange afterimages that are capable of distracting opponents from the real F91.

24 ZMT-S34S Rig Contio

Rig Contio

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam

Cronicle Asher

At the end of Victory Gundam, Cronicle Asher (who has one of the strangest Gundam names) relied on the power of his new and improved Rig Contio to stand against Uso Evin and his V2 Gundam. With the Rig Contio, Chronicle was able to fight not just the V2, but battle other mobile suits as well. With the power of the suit's variable beam launcher, the Rig Contio can tear directly into a battleship without any additional armaments.

The Rig Contio's signature weapon, though, is the Shot Claw. A grappling weapon that attacks both close- and long-range thanks to its beam gun and beam saber weapons, the Shot Claw can catch any enemy off-guard.

23 MSN-04 Sazabi

Sazabi

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack

Char Aznable

The MSN-04 Sazabi is a suit designed specifically to bring out the best of Char Aznable's NewType abilities. With that in mind, Anaheim Electronics used the very first Psycho-Frame with this system, to make Char more dangerous on the battlefield than ever.

The Sazabi relies on the power of six fin funnels that are normally stored in its backpack, but can be launched and controlled psychically, multipying the pilot's firepower several times. It's other major weapon is a mega-particle cannon that requires so much power it's connected directly to the Sazabi. With the Sazabi, despite Char being completely outmatched by Amuro's NewType abilities, he was still capable of keeping up in battle.

22 OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon

Epyon

Series

Pilot

New Mobile Report Gundam Wing

Zechs Merquise

The Epyon was meant to be the most powerful Gundam within the After Colony timeline. It takes perfect advantage of the Zero System, feeding the pilot all the data they need on the battlefield to allow them to achieve a perfect victory. The downside of the Epyon is that it can only take pilots with a strong will, as ones who are weak-minded will be swallowed by the suit itself.

Unlike many Gundam mobile suits, the Epyon prioritizes speed and close-range combat over long-range weaponry. Its key weapon is a whip known as a heat rod, which can sever multiple mobile suits with a single whip. Some fans agree Gundam Wing should only be watched one time, but its almost worth a rewatch to see this mobile suit again. Conversely, it's generally agreed upon that the movie sequel to the series - Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz - is the best in the franchise.

The main characters of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing against mecha robots on the poster of the series
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
TV-PG
Animation
Action
Adventure

A squadron of giant robot pilots of a beleaguered Earth colony bring the war to their oppressive home planet.

Release Date
March 6, 2000
Creator
Kōichi Tokita
Cast
Hikaru Midorikawa , Toshihiko Seki , Ryûzô Ishino , Akio Otsuka , David Kaye
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
1

21 Turn X Gundam

Turn X Gundam

Series

Pilot

Turn A Gundam

Gym Ghingam

The so-called "Turn X" Gundam represents one of the most dangerous weapons in Gundam history. The suit was created during Turn A Gundam's "Dark History" era, and represents one of the most advanced weapons from that time period. Eventually, this suit was piloted by Gym Ghingam, the main antagonist of the series.

Turn X's power is not to be underestimated. It's armed with an array of powerful weapons like its mega particle cannon and Fusion and Crushing Manipulator, a weapon with power rivaling the Shining Finger. Its other abilities allow it to drain energy from other mobile suits, and the Moonlight Butterfly System can wipe out matter both inorganic and organic.

20 The RX-78-2

RX-78-2

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam

Amuro Ray

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Forty-plus years of Gundam history would not have happened if Mobile Suit Gundam hadn't been released in 1979. After years of Super Robots, this show set the standard for mecha anime going forward. It presented a realm with more realistic robots and weapons, in contrast to other mecha series that came before. Part of how it did this was the RX-78-2 Gundam.

The RX-78 is pretty powerful and, despite encapsulating the 80s thanks to how old it is, could probably go toe-to-toe with a more modern Gundam. Besides the Vulcan Gun and the Beam Rifle & Saber, it also possesses more classic weaponry like a mace and a rocket launcher. The mobile suit was piloted by Amuro Ray, and most of the later "main" Gundams are inspired by its design. While it might not be the most powerful Gundam, it's definitely the most iconic.

Mobile Suit Gundam
TV-14
Anime
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi

Original title: Kidô senshi Gandamu.
In the war between the Earth Federation and Zeon, a young and inexperienced crew find themselves on a new spaceship. Their best hope of making it through the conflict is the Gundam, a giant humanoid robot, and its gifted teenage pilot.

Release Date
April 7, 1979
Creator
Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
1
Production Company
Nagoya Broadcasting Network (Nagoya TV), Sotsu Agency, Sunrise
Number of Episodes
43
Main Cast
Tôru Furuya, Shûichi Ikeda, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Yô Inoue, Brad Swaile, Michael Kopsa, Chris Calhoon and Alaina Burnett

19 Zudah

EMS-10 Zudah Gundam flying through space

Zudah

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War

Jean-Luc Duvall

Not every Gundam appears in full-operational mode during a full anime series. Sometimes, mecha prototypes such as the Zudah appeared in Original Video Animation (OVA) presentations.

The Zudah first appeared in the Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO OVA. Its biggest change from older models of the line is a Jupiter engine. Using a variety of raw materials, this mechanism could thrust the Gundam at 200 meters a second. It is also comprised of several armaments and a nearly indestructible shield, making it one of the more resourceful Gundam suits.

18 Spike Gundam

Spike Gundam

Series

Pilot

Mobile Fighter G Gundam

Chico Rodriguez

Some people might say G Gundam is too ridiculous given its ridiculous reputation, but that's basically the point of the Super Robot series. Spike Gundam, named Tequila Gundam in the original version of the anime, helped its pilot and his sister escape the Neo Mexico space station.

Though it doesn't have many armaments, its Vulcan Gun and Beam Trident are incredibly powerful. Furthermore, Spike is designed specifically for underwater combat, which is an ability that most other units lack. Thus, it's something of a cut above most Gundam, despite its laughable design.

17 Zogok

Zogok Gundam Bandai model box

Zogok

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

Maximilian Shell

The MSM-08 is another amphibious mecha, and it has a fairly strange design for a Gundam. Present early in the Universal Century timeline, the Zogok prototype was used in the invasion of Earth's Federation headquarters underneath the Amazon River. Needless to say, it required weapons to assist it in the water.

Its most powerful tool is the Extendable Hand. This allows Zogok to engage in close-quarters combat with other Gundam. It also carries a dozen boomerang cutter blades in its arsenal. Since its base of operations is normally underwater, these might be self-propelled.

16 ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Rex

Barbatos Lupus Rex

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS

Mikazuki Augus, Hiroto Kuga

This version of the Gundam Barbatos was its ultimate evolution, made after fully adapting to its pilot's fighting style. Known as the "Rex" because it means King, this monstrous mobile suit was able to tear through its enemies. Much like prior versions of this suit, it's meant largely for short-range battle.

Its primary weapon is a massive mace that it can use to fight anything from other mobile suits to battleships. Its enhanced weaponry involved a tail blade that could easily strike enemies that got too close. It also included the Rex Nails that could tear through enemy suits like they're nothing. Compared to other suits that relied on long-range beam weapons, this might not seem dangerous, but the suit's speed and the pilot's ferocity made it near unstoppable.

15 FA-78 Full Armor Gundam (Thunderbolt Version)

Full Armor Gundam

Series

Pilot

Gundam Build Divers

Heinz Baer, Takashi Kitamoto, Fritz, Amuro Ray

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At the end of the One Year War, ace pilot Io Fleming was sent an improved version of the classic RX-78-2 Gundam, the FA-78 Full Armor Gundam. The suit was more of a kitbash than a true new model, outfitted with as much additional Gundam weaponry as possible, including four shields, five rocket launchers, and even multiple beam sabers. This made it an improved version of what was already one of the best Gundam.

Though this might have seemed excessive, Fleming needed every bit of this to fight against the Zeon's most dangerous sniper. While the suit might seem too heavy, thanks to the powerful thrusters on the back and it being designed primarily for anti-gravity battles, it's still considered a suit with top tier mobility.

14 ZZ Gundam

ZZ Gundam

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

Judau Ashta, Roux Louka, Beecha Oleg, Iino Abbav, Elpeo Ple, Elle Vianno, Mondo Agake, Chara Soon, Milly Childer

The main mobile suit for protagonist Judau Ashta, the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam was introduced early in ZZ Gundam. Like the original Zeta Gundam, the Double Zeta can transform into alternate modes in combat. However, unlike the Zeta Gundam, it comprises multiple different vehicles that all combine into a single robot.

The suit was equipped with a powerful double beam cannon, but its most dangerous weapon is the High Mega Cannon at the center of its head. Though it couldn't be used repeatedly, the High Mega Cannon remained one of the strongest weapons a Universal Century-era mobile suit was ever given.

The characters standing near their mech in a blue and white poster for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
TV-14
Action
Drama

Eight years after the One Year War, the Earth Federation creates an elite force called the Titans to hunt Zeon remnants. When Titans proves to be no better than Zeon, the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) is formed to restore peace in space.

Release Date
March 2, 1985
Creator
Yoshiyuki Tomino
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
1 Season
Characters By
Nobuo Tobita, Shûichi Ikeda, Hirotaka Suzuoki
Producer
Kenji Uchida, Kuniaki Ohnishi, Toru Moriyama
Production Company
Sotsu Agency, Sunrise
Number of Episodes
50 Episodes

13 RX-9 Narrative Gundam

Narrative Gundam

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative

Jona Basta

The Narrative Gundam was originally a prototype for Amuro Ray's RX-93 n Gundam, and was never meant to go into battle. However, when extreme circumstances cause it to be used in combat, it still proves itself useful. The Narrative Gundam's key skill is its variability, possessing three different versions for different situations.

Out in space, it takes on a Mobile Armor-like appearance with the A-Packs, granting it incredible maneuverability and some powerful weapons. On land, it relies on the power of the B-Packs, which feature wire-guided Incoms that can shut down even a suit as powerful as the Unicorn Phenex Gundam. Lastly, the C-Packs version relies on the power of its Psycho-Frame. These are arguably handicaps for one of the most powerful Gundam.

12 XVX-016 Gundam Aerial Rebuild

Gundam Aerial Rebuild

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Suletta Mercury

As one of the best anime of 2022 and 2023, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury has quickly become a new favorite with Gundam fans everywhere. Despite Suletta Mercury being one of the nicest anime protagonists ever, while inside the Gundam Aerial, she's quite terrifying.

She's even more dangerous with the improved Gundam Aerial Rebuild, which boasts improved versions of all her older weapons, such as the bit staves and beam sabers. As if her beam rifle wasn't dangerous enough, she can combine them with her Bit Staves to create an even larger weapon in the GUND-BIT cannon, which can destroy any mobile suit that even gets close to hers.

11 Freedom Gundam

Freedom Gundam

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

Kira Yamato

Mecha models and Gundam suits to to improve due to the tests of previous models. The ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam for instance, is the precursor to the Strike Freedom model that appears in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. It's also one of the most iconic Gundam suits to appear throughout the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED subseries.

Though it's only the predecessor to the Strike Freedom, it's still a powerful mecha. One of its characteristics is a High Mobility Aerial Tactics (HiMAT) mode. It allows the pilot to unfold the Gundam's wings for increased maneuverability in the sky and space. It can also use its beam rifle, railguns, and plasma cannons all at once to decimate an opponent.

10 RX-78 NT1 Gundam "Alex"

Gundam NT-1

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

Christina Mackenzie, Eesaku

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The NT-1 Alex is a high-performance version of the original RX-78-2 Gundam model, meant for usage by the legendary pilot Amuro Ray. However, the war ended before this suit could be shipped to him. Of course, paired with Amuro, the base model of the RX-78 alone was enough to change the tide of the One Year War.

The Alex improved on this groundbreaking model by adding its Chobam armor. Furthermore, the Gundam suit also had a powerful program that took advantage of Amuro's NewType powers. While it never made it to Amuro, it was piloted by Chris Mackenzie in the genre-defining mecha series Gundam 0080.

9 ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom

Strike Freedom Gundam

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny

Kira Yamato, Kiyoya Kisugi, Sana Miyama

The main reason for the Strike Freedom's effectiveness is its pilot, Kira Yamato. He is so technically proficient he battled entire armies of mobile suits on his own without a scratch. Needless to say, Strike Freedom is no slouch when analyzing its power.

Strike Freedom is fully loaded with armaments, from a beam cannon in its abdomen to railguns on its hips. It also contains all the standard Gundam equipment it comes with, like beam sabers and rifles. Additionally, its DRAGOON system allows it to remote guide weapons to target multiple enemies simultaneously.

8 RX-93 Nu Gundam

Nu Gundam

Series

Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack

Amuro Ray, Keiji Date

The Nu Gundam has several reasons for its elevated ranking. One major reason is that it's piloted by Amuro Ray, who is easily the most mature one among them.

Additionally, after years of working for the Earth’s Federation Forces, the Nu Gundam was designed to take advantage of all of Amuro’s developed abilities. This is why it's equipped with the Psycommu system. It allows Amuro to use weapons known as “bits,” psychically controlled drones that increase firepower for the user.

7 LM314V21 V2 Gundam

V2 Gundam

Series

Pilot

Gundam Build Fighters AR

Julian Ayers Mackenzie

The V2 Gundam comes from the end of the longest existing timeline, the Universal Century. As such, it incorporates a lot of the better technologies from other series that take place earlier in its history. This is why 13-year-old Uso Ewin can tear through an entire empire largely alone.

The Gundam has a pair of impressive abilities. One is the Minovsky Drive, which allows superior maneuverability over other mobile suits. The other is Wings of Light, a primary defensive capability for the V2 that it can mega beam cannon shots. Despite being one of the most powerful Gundam, it's never appeared in any of the anime.

6 GX-9901-DX Gundam Double X

Gundam Double X

Series

Pilot

After War Gundam X

Garrod Ran, Kato

The improved version of a previous mobile suit, the Double X was created as an upgrade after the original is destroyed. Originally meant for a completely different pilot, the Gundam Double X was captured by the crew of the Freeden to find its way back to Garrod.

The Gundam Double's key feature is its satellite system. It takes powerful microwave energy from a solar station on the move and channels it into its Satellite Cannon. The Double X's cannon can absorb more energy and use it more effectively. It's capable of destroying entire space colonies. This status as one of the strongest Gundam is despite its hailing from a canceled anime series that most fans have forgotten.